"Mr. Yuy, I am so pleased you could meet with me on such short notice."

Heero declined the man's outstretched hand, instead settling himself down into one of the expensive leather chairs in front of the man's desk.

"I was told you had a job for me."

The man blinked, dropping his hand. "I do." He sat in his own chair, leaning forward to look Heero in the eye.

"There's someone I want you to find for me," the man said, pushing a manila folder across the heavy oak desk.

"There usually is," Heero replied, glancing quickly at the woman standing ramrod stiff behind the man's chair. Her dress said secretary, but her stance screamed bodyguard. She would not look him in the eye, either a dangerous habit, or she was embarrassed that an outsider had to be called in on this matter.

Heero leaned forward to pick up the folder, thumbing through its contents. "What's the story?"

"I had a young man in my... employ. He was trusted with many important aspects of my business operations. I had hoped to mold him into a leader by giving him more responsibilities and placing my trust in him. He had a bright future in my organization, but instead of being grateful, the little wretch betrayed my trust and made off with a sizable amount of money."

Heero looked up. "How much?"

"Twenty-five million credits."

That made Heero raise one eyebrow. Slightly. "That's quite a lot of money. Guy must have balls to steal such a large sum from someone like yourself, Mr. Khushrenada."

Treize Khushrenada winced, a scowl settling on his features, spoiling what one would call a handsome face. No doubt the man had used his looks to charm women and businessmen alike. Fortunately, Heero was neither.

"One million."

"Excuse me?" The scowl was replaced by surprise.

"One million to find him and bring him to you. That is what you want, no?"

Treize nodded. "I don't want him killed. Not, at least, until I have learned the whereabouts of my money."

Heero shrugged. "I'm not an assassin. I'm a bounty hunter. What you do after I bring him to you is of no consequence to me, and frankly the less I know about your plans, the better it is for all of us."

"Understood."

Heero turned his attention back to the papers in his hands. He shifted through them, looking for details, clues. Better to be thorough now than impatient and unprepared later. It was a philosophy that had kept him alive for the last twenty-nine years. "Duo Barton… last known location on Colony L2, Cluster X76412." He looked up. "Not exactly where I'd run to if I'd just stolen 25 million."

"The theft took place over two years ago." Treize glanced sharply at the woman standing behind him.

Two years? Heero's estimation of the guy rose a notch. Khushrenada was a man of impeccable wealth and power. Heero was certain he had been called in as a last resort; the man's own people had failed to track one little wannabe paper pusher. That took some skills.

"There's not a picture in this file."

Khushrenada opened a drawer and took out a photograph, sliding it across the desk. Heero picked it up, blinking at the image in surprise. The young man in the picture had a heart-shaped face, with just a hint of residual baby fat rounding his cheeks. His eyes were the most unusual shade of blue-violet, and his hair was long, draped in a braid over one shoulder. He looked young – almost too young to have done what Khushrenada was claiming. "He's just a kid."

"That is the most recent photograph I could find. It was taken four years ago, at age sixteen. He would be close to twenty-one by now."

"How did he get access to your personal information and accounts at such a young age?" Heero asked. There was something about the face staring up at him from the photo that bothered him.

"Like I said, he had potential."

"Potential. Right." More like sleeping with the boss, perhaps? Or not. According to the records in his hands, the kid had had exceptional scores on the company aptitude tests. His IQ was high, and he'd had a near perfect work record up until the theft. Khushrenada's agents had tracked him from Earth to L1, lost him on L3 before catching a lucky break on L2. But the last sighting had been six months prior. This would not be an easy rundown, if the kid was as good as Heero hoped he was. He was always looking for a challenge.

"Do you agree to my price?"

"One million? That seems a little pricey for a scrawny kid."

"I want half up front."

Khushrenada laughed out loud. "My dear Mr. Yuy. I am a businessman. And one of the first things I learned about business is to never pay for something without seeing what you are getting." He took another envelope out of his drawer and slid it to him. "That's a ticket to L2 and five thousand credits. Should you need more, contact me. You will receive your payment only after you have walked Duo Barton through that door."

Heero gave him a measured look. Normally, he would demand half up front as a gesture of good faith from his clients. But no one had ever agreed to his asking price of a million before. The kid might have some skills, but Heero always got his prey in the end. For the prospect of a million, he could forgo the up front payment this once.

"Done. Do you have the contract?"

"I do." Another piece of paper came out of the desk. Heero looked it over, noting with satisfaction all the legalities, then signed it.

The woman behind Khushrenada made a small, strangling sound as he pushed the contract back across the desk. Ahh. So she was the one who had failed to track the kid. She was also the one he would need to talk to.

As if sensing his thoughts, Khushrenada gestured to the woman. "This is the head of my personal security team, Ms. Une. She can fill you in on Barton's movements since we discovered the theft."

Heero nodded, standing. The woman, Une, still refused to look at him.

"There is one other thing," Khushrenada continued.

"Yes?"

"Barton… also stole something personal. I would very much like to have it back."

"What was it?"

"A small gold cross. It belonged to my late wife. I wish it returned."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think he'd still have it?"

"He'll have it. Just make sure to bring it with him."

Heero had his doubts. Jewelry was an easy hock for quick cash. If Barton had hidden the twenty-five million in a hard-to-access place, he'd have sold the cross for supplies or credits. "Is the cross necessary for my payment?"

Khushrenada hesitated. "Yes. But like I said, he'll have it on him."

Heero's eyes narrowed. This hadn't been included in the contract. He hunted people, not baubles. There was more to this mark than he was being told. Perhaps he could get it out of this Une woman.

"The cross was not in the contract. I can take you to court on this if need be."

"Mr. Yuy, I am a very powerful man. I own the courts. Bring me Barton and the cross and I'll double your fee."

His heart did a little flip-flop. Two million. For a kid and a piece of jewelry. If Barton did not have the cross, Heero would make him tell him where it was. It was a gamble. Double or nothing. This was going to be a challenge indeed.

"I'll leave tomorrow."

"Excellent. Une, would you escort Mr. Yuy to Conference Room B and answer any questions he has for you?"

The woman nodded sharply. "Yes, sir." She walked stiffly to the door. "If you would follow me?"

Heero nodded once to Khushrenada before he left. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Khushrenada nodded back. "Bring him back to me, Mr. Yuy."

'No problem there,' Heero thought as he followed Une out of Khushrenada's office. Heero always got his man.

Another day, another dotted line. Relena idly wondered, as she signed her name to yet another piece of legislation, if she ought to stop and actually read what she was signing. Of course, if she actually stopped to do *that*, she'd never get anything done. She simply had to rely on her assistants and staff to only send things to her desk to be signed that she supported. Like payroll. She frowned as she looked down at the authorization form. Had it really been two weeks already? She could have sworn she had signed one of these just the other day.

"You need to get out more," she mumbled to herself as she signed in the appropriate spot and reached for the next stack.

The phone on her desk beeped, startling her out of her thoughts.

"Miss Peacecraft? There's a call for you on line one," came the disembodied voice of her secretary through the speaker.

"Can you take a message for me please? I'm running behind today," Relena replied, not looking up, absently pushing back an errant lock of hair out of her face.

"Yes, ma'am."

The phone went silent. Relena turned back to her paperwork. Scratch, scratch, shuffle, shuffle. She could have sworn her paperwork was breeding.

The phone buzzed again. "I'm sorry, ma'am. But the caller on one seems pretty persistent."

Relena sighed. "Who is it, Dorothy?"

"He says his name is Odin Lowe. I told him you were busy, but..."

Relena's eyes widened at the name. "Thank you, Dorothy. I'll take the call."

"Yes, ma'am."

Relena picked up the phone, pressing the flashing button on her phone, holding her breath as she placed the receiver to her ear.

"'Lena?"

"Heero." She let out the breath, slumping in her chair. "You never call me on this line. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, 'Lena. I just wanted to let you know I'm heading out tomorrow."

Relena frowned. "New job?"

"Aa."

"Dangerous?"

"Shouldn't be."

Relena sighed. "I guess this means you won't be making it to my reception this weekend."

"You know I don't like those things, 'Lena."

"I know. Which is why I make you escort me." She paused, listening to him breathe on the other end of the line. "When do you think you'll be back?"

"Monday, Tuesday at the most. Simple rundown. Some kid stole twenty-five mil from Treize Khushrenada and he wants it back."

Relena blinked. "Treize Khushrenada? *The* Treize Khushrenada of OZ Corp.?"

She could hear Heero shrug over the phone. "I suppose. His office was fancy enough for it."

"Damn. I've been trying to meet with him for the past two months. If I'd known you had an *invitation* into the inner sanctum, I'd have come along."

"'Lena..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You don't want it out that your best friend is an Earthsphere senator, and it wouldn't exactly do my reputation any good if people knew I had my own bounty hunter in my pocket. But damn, Khushy is a slippery bugger."

"Khushy? Never mind, I don't want to know," Heero said with a small laugh. "What does the Senate want with OZ Corp. anyway?"

Relena leaned back in her chair, fingers tangling themselves in the phone cord. "Rumors. Nothing concrete. I am sure he will deny everything."

"What kinds of rumors?"

"Arms manufacturing. There's a plant on L3 we're particularly interested in, but so far, our agents have not had any luck in gaining access. I don't suppose you've heard anything?"

"Sorry. I only listen when it's prudent for me to do so."

Relena suppressed another sigh. "Well, since you're working for him, if you hear anything..."

"You'll be the first person I call."

"And if you don't, you'll call anyway, right, Heero?"

"Aa."

"Good." She hesitated, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. "Look, Heero... be careful, okay?"

"I always am."

"I know. It's just... I can't lose you, too..." She trailed off before her voice could crack.

"You won't, 'Lena," the man on the other end replied, almost tenderly. "I'll be in touch in a few days."

She smiled. "You do that. And you owe me a party."

"Wherever you want to go, 'Lena."

She sighed again, her hand creeping up to grasp the locket containing the portraits of her dead parents. "I wish you'd just take my offer to join my staff and come stay with me. I wouldn't have to worry about you so much then."

He didn't say anything for a moment. "'Lena, you know I can't..."

"I know," she replied sadly. "Just... stay safe and call me as soon as you get back."

"Aa. Try not to eat any of your colleagues alive while I'm gone."

Relena had to laugh at that. "My best behavior, I promise. Besides, I couldn't hide the bodies without your help." Another long lapse of silence. "I love you, Heero."

"Good-bye, 'Lena."

The phone went dead in her hand. Relena sighed, reaching over to hang up the receiver. She always worried about Heero when he went out on his "jobs," but this time he was dealing with Khushrenada himself. He was a dangerous man... she just couldn't prove it. Still, it must be one hell of a job for Heero to take it at all. He could read people as well as she.

But Heero was a law unto himself, with a different set of morals almost alien to her own. She knew he would not kill for his clients — he'd sworn never to kill again — but that did not stop him from being ruthless.

Despite that, she still worried for him. He was playing a dangerous game, and even the best players lost every once in a while.

She dropped her pendant, leaning back against her chair and closing her eyes.

"Stay safe, Heero. Or I swear to God I'll have you locked up where you can't get yourself into trouble anymore!"